Patients arrive at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center daily thinking they are there for a routine examination, only to be told they must stay overnight for additional observation and testing. These events often lead to frustration on the part of the veterans as they are unprepared.

 

Thanks to the Harrison County Community Educational Outreach Service organization, a lot of those frustrations have been alleviated. Donations of personal hygiene, comfort, and entertainment items have been offered up by the clubs comprising this century-old organization as part of their community service efforts in celebration of the state’s CEOS Week. More than $1,800 in comfort, entertainment, and personal hygiene items were turned over to the staff at the VA hospital for distribution to veterans in need.

 

This particular community service donation has been a part of the clubs’ commitment to the veterans for more than 10 years. The project began as a way of saying “Thank you” to the men and women who served their country in the military.

 

“We like to donate to our veterans who served our country,” said Harrison County CEOS president Karen Blocker.

 

Many of the CEOS members have fathers, sons, daughters and other loved one who served in the armed forces.

 

“Even a small item means so much to the veteran,” said Dr. Glenn Snider, the director of the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. “They realize how they are valued as citizens and as veterans. It shows the veterans that it’s not just the VA caring for them. It’s a lot of community organizations. ”

 

For CEOS members Pat Rummel, an Army veteran, and Sylvia Pontius, a Navy veteran, the donation has a twofold. Both said they are grateful for the chance to help fellow military veterans through the CEOS organization, and both added they are grateful for the community support they receive as former members of the military.

 

“I love the fact that so much attention is focused on the veterans,” Rummel said. “A lot of them are far removed from their families when they come (to the VA hospital) because they are not from here. This gives them some special attention.”

 

Several of the donated items were given specifically to help female veterans at the hospital.

 

“We have to be a voice for the female veterans” Pontius said. “There is not a lot of donations for the female veterans.”

 

The Harrison County CEOS organization is made up of 20 clubs and nearly 300 members scattered throughout the county. The CEOS is part of the programming sponsored by the West Virginia University Extension Service. To join a club or for more information about the CEOS, contact the Harrison County office at 304-624-8650.

 

The programs and activities offered by the WVU Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status. When registering for these programs, please designate special access or dietary needs three weeks prior. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.

 

Editor’s Note: Pictured more than$1,800 in personal hygiene, comfort, and entertainment items were donated by the Harrison County Community Outreach Service organization to the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center on May 23 as part of a community service project done annually during CEOS Week. In the front row, from left, are Pat Rummel, Ladonna Tucker, Sylvia Pontius, Jan Johnson, and Pam Coffman. In the back row are VA Public Affairs Officer Wesley Walls, Harrison County CEOS president Karen Blocker, Harrison County CEOS treasurer Rena Lawrence, Delores Stutler, Patty Cheuvront, and Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center director Dr. Glenn Snider.